Christmas Wishes

Volunteer Pauline Chin has been exploring what Santa Paws might bring....

In celebration of the holiday season, let’s have a look at what might be on the Christmas Wish List of our kitties.  This is a shortened list.  The full list would keep you reading until next year.

KN

Leland: My dream is of a life where I am the only cat – my favourite humans around to cuddle me, but no other felines.

MW

Wickem: I’m a simple cat.  I’d be happy with warm laps, snuggles, and dry feet.

KN

Rufus: Food, glorious food.  Chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon – I’ll eat them all!  Just make sure you serve me first.

MW

Jody: All I wish for is a cozy corner where I can curl up comfortably and get scritches all day. (Jody is one of our senior ladies, at more than 20 years old)

LP

Graycie: I want my humans (mostly Shelter Manager Lisa) to spend all day and night with me.  I will ensure they work hard, feed me on time, and take frequent breaks so they can love me.

PH

Huey: An appointment book and my own secretary.  I want one-on-one time with humans without the wait and without interruptions.

KN

Skittles:  Laps! Lots and lots of laps!  And chicken bits too. But laps are the most important.  Can I climb up on your lap right now?

KN

Plum: No more baths!  (poor Plum has manx syndrome, and a dirty bum that needs daily washing)

MW

Smoochie: More toys!  I love play time!

Our cats have various ideas on what makes them happy.  Generally, it’s having humans around to give them attention, an all-you-can-eat meat buffet, or an infinite amount of things to play with.  The cats don’t care what day it is, as it feels like Christmas when we fulfill their wishes throughout the year.

Blog by Pauline Chin, with Brigid Coult

Photos by Phaedra Hardman, Alice Lai, Karen Nicholson, Lisa Parker, Michele Wright

Wickem

This lovely boy has made himself a favourite with visitors to the Hill House

Wickem is another of the cats that has come to us from the closing private shelter on the Sunshine Coast.  We were told that he and his buddy Gidget were bonded and should be kept together, and they were given the big cage space in that cabin to settle down and assimilate all the other cat-smells and activities around.  Gidget was usually wary of attention, but Wickem was happy to have lap-time with visitors, and relaxed with human interaction.

BC

Once the cage door was opened, Wickem was pretty comfortable with coming out, though he rarely went past the door of the house.  Gidget remained tucked in her corner for some time, then ventured out and ended up relocating to the Connor – obviously these two were not as bonded as we’d been given to understand!

Wickem's buddy Gidget

Wickem adores getting attention from people entering the room; he hops down from his favourite chair and approaches the visitor.  He is the only “rumpy” or tailless Manx in the front courtyard – a “stumpy” Manx has a short tail that is curved, knotted or kinked, like Carly Simon, and a “longy” has an almost full length tail that may have a lump at the end of it, like Abby or Sylvester.  Rumpies are often prone to Manx syndrome, in which the shortening of the spine affects the cat’s ability to eliminate, and it may become incontinent. Our dearly beloved Sweet Pea, who we lost last year, was one of those cats, and there are currently four others in the back area of the Sanctuary.

Wickem is mostly free from that problem, but when he’s really happy and relaxed on your lap, it’s worth having a towel under him!  Not only can he drool with happiness at being petted, but he can also dribble a little pee when he’s really relaxed – one of the staff calls him “Wikileaks”

Gradually he is becoming more comfortable with moving into the courtyard. He doesn’t yet interact much with the other cats, but he’s a long way from being the sort of antisocial cat that Leland is. He seems to be very comfortable in himself, but his favourite thing is definitely human attention. Come visit us on a Sunday afternoon, and cuddle with him!

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult & Michele Wright

Black Winnie

Winnie arrived at the Cat Sanctuary a couple of years ago from a situation in which her owner was no longer able to  care for her at home.  She was with her owner’s mother for a while, but the woman’s health declined, and Winnie came to us.

Winnie couldn't be more different from the previous Winnie we had here - a little tabby/siamese cross that wanted nothing more than to love the humans who cared for her.  This Winnie excels as a Garbo cat - “I vant to be alone.” In her cage she rumbled and grumbled; once released she made a point of finding places that would not be invaded by other cats.  Winnie is a large lady, but finding those islands of safety often meant climbing up on top of the can-cupboard outside the SingleWide – not a easy climb for a not-very-athletic cat!

Once out and about, she was cautiously tolerant of humans – too much attention and she had no problem telling you where to get off. But other cats – no! Winnie was Queen in her own little world, and didn’t want invaders. I often found it funny that she shared space with the other extreme loner, Leland – he on his chair on the left of the porch and she in her basket on the right – both carefully not looking at the other.

Through the summer months, Winnie has mellowed somewhat; she ventures down into the courtyard for some sunning, and is ready to interact with visitors and volunteers.  With the people she trusts the attention span is longer, but woe betide the cat that ventures into her orbit!

As far as we know, she’s not a pee-er; she’s just a cat that would have to be an “only” in a home situation, and with a human with whom she is comfortable.  But when you have the double whammy of being large and black, and a bit grumpy, it can be hard to find a home. She wouldn’t be able to handle being at the Shelter, so the Sanctuary is her home, unless someone falls in love with her, and can live with her little quirks.

Blog by Brigid Coult

All photos by Michele Wright